Sofa bed



E. NADICH SOFA BED June 27, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. S, 1965 E. NDICH `Fume 27, 1967 SOFA BED 2 Sheets-Sheet 2r Filed Aug. 2, 1955 United States Patent O SOFA BED Emmerich Nadich, Alexanderstrasse 9i?, Stuttgart, Germany Filed Aug. 2, 1965, Ser. No. 476,626 Claims priority, application Austria, Aug. 6, 1964, A 6,750/64 12 Claims. {CL 5-14) The present invention relates to a piece of furniture in the nature of a sofa bed, bed couch, or the like which may be converted from its normal position as a sofa or couch into a regular bed.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a sofa bed or the like, which has a very modern appearance, is as compact as possible, and contains a bed frame on which a bed is placed which may be in a completely made-up condition, so that this piece of furniture may be quickly converted from a sofa or couch into a comfortable bed.

lit is another object of the present invention to provide a sofa bed, which includes an outer main frame which comprises a pair of lateral frame members at both ends of the sofa bed or the like, which are rigidly secured to each other and support the seat part as well as the bed frame, and means for pivoting the seat part from its normal sitting position about an axis extending parallel to the rear longitudinal side thereof to a substantially vertical position and for moving, at the same time, the bed frame with the completely made-up bed thereon from its normal position underneath and parallel to the seat part to a higher position forwardly of the vertical seat part.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a front elevation of the sofa bed, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of one of the lateral frame parts of the sofa bed, according to FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the sofa bed, partly in section, according to FIG. 1, from which the lateral frame part at the front end of the sofa bed is removed;

FIG. 4 shows a view similar to FIG. 3 of a sofa bed, disclosing another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 of a sofa bed, disclosing still a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a view silmilar to FIGS. 3 to 5 of a sofa bed, disclosing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. l to 3, the sofa `bed according to the present invention comprises a seat part 1 and a back rest 7, which are pivotably mounted `between two lateral frame parts 3. The latter are rigidly secured to a back wall 4 and form with the latter the main frame of the sofa bed. Underneath and spaced apart from the seat part 1 is a bed frame 2, which is offset toward the rear of the seat part 1 and carries two rollers 10 and 11, which project into slots or grooves 12 and 13 in the lateral frame parts 3 which extend obliquely upward toward the front. The upper end of each groove or slot 12 and 13 is provided with a longitudinal extension 17 or 18, respectively, and the front groove or slot 13 has in addition a downwardly projecting recess 14.

Each lateral frame part 3 further supports a substantially T-shaped angle iron 6, which is mounted thereon, so as to be pivotable about an axis 5. One arm of this angle iron 6 is connected to the seat part 1 and the other arm is provided with a slot 9 in which the roller lil is guided. The longer arm of the angle iron 6, which contains the slot 9, has above the other arm an extension 19 on which the 3,327,327 Patented .lune 27, 1967 Fice back rest 7 is pivotably mounted. A spring 20, which is connected at one end to the angle iron 6 and at the other end to the back rest 4, is under tension, when the sofa bed is in its normal or sitting position.

As may be seen in the FIG. 3, there is a relatively large distance between the lower side of the seat part 1 and the bed frame 2, so that the bedding which lies on the bed frame 2, when the sofa bed is in its sitting position, may be kept thereon completely made up for instance use. The bed frame 2 itself is covered up by a covering member 8 which is pivotally secured to the seat part 1.

When the sofa is to be converted into a bed, the person operating it grips the front edge of the seat part 1 and swings the latter upwardly about the axis 5. By means of the angle iron 6, the seat part 1 then takes along the back rest 7. This movement is assisted by the force of the spring 20 which is connected to the angle iron 6. When the seat part 1 is pivoted toward the rear, the bed frame 2 is at the same time elevated since it is guided in the upward direction in the grooves or slots 12 and 13 and in the slot 9 in the angle iron 6. At the end of this movement, the roller 11 engages into the recess 14, so that the bed frame is then held in a xed position. The entire -width of the bed frame 2 is then exposed and may be used for sleeping on its mattress `or the like. At the same time, the seat part 1 is turned from its horizontal position shown in full lines to its vertical position 1 shown in dotted lines.

If the seat part 1 should be pivoted back to its normal position, the bed frame 2 is lifted slightly and then pushed back toward the rear, while the seat part 1 is pressed downwardly. The bed frame 2 then slides back to its original position and the spring 20 is, thereby, again tightened to tension.

Referring now again to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 4, another embodiment of the sofa bed according to the present invention is disclosed, in which the bed frame 2a, which is again located underneath and spaced apart from the seat part lla and is offset toward the rear of the latter, is pivotally suspended on the levers 21 and 22 which, in turn, are pivotably mounted on the lateral frame parts 3a. The seat part ll2L is rigidly secured to an angular lever 23, which is likewise mounted ion the frame parts 3a, so as to be pivotable about an axis 25, while the back rest is pivotably mounted on this angular lever 23. The latter is, in turn, pivotably connected to the lever 21, by a link 24.

When the seat part 1a of the sofa bed, according to FIG. 4, is swung upwardly about the axis 25 to the position 1a in the same manner as previously described, the angular lever 23 moves the bed frame 2a to the position 2a by means of the link 24 and the levers 21 and 22. The lever system 21, 23, and 24 is designed so as to be in a dead-center position relative to the pivot axis 25 of the seat part 1a when the latter is swung upwardly to the position 1a', so that the bed frame 2a is then securely locked in a xed position. Ot course, the lever system 21, 23, and 24, as shown in FIG. 4 may be modiiied in many respects, pr-ovided the same results are attained as are described above.

Referring now again to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 5, another embodiment of the present invention, in which each side of the bed frame 2fL rests on two pairs of scissorlike double levers 26 and 27. One arm of each of these double levers 26 and 27 is pivotably mounted, while the other arm is slidable within a slot 2S. By means of a cable 29 running over guide rollers 31 which are mounted on the lateral frame part 3b, at least one of these slidable arms is connected to an angle iron 30 which connects the seat part 1b to the back rest 7b.

When the seat part 1b is swung upwardly to assume the position of part 1b, the arm of the double lever 27 which is guided in the slot 28 is drawn forwardly, whereby the bed frame 2 is lifted and shifted forwardly to the position 2b. For locking the bed frame in its raised position 2b', suitable locking means (not shown) may be provided on the lateral frame parts 3b.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a further embodiment of the present invention is disclosed, which differs from the embodiments as previously described especially by its simple adjusting mechanism, which essentially consists of a substantially T-shaped lever 31, which is pivotable on the side part 1c about an axis 34. The upper end 32 of the crossbar of the lever 31 is pivotably connected to the back rest 7C, while its lower end 33 is pivotably connected to the bed frame 2C. The other arm 35 of the lever 31 is rigidly secured to the seat part 1. The bed frame 2c is further suspended on the lateral frame part 3C'by a pivotable lever 36. Since the T-shaped lever 31 does not have any dead center such as described, for example, with reference to FIG. 4, it is necessary to provide additional releasable locking means, stops 37, or the like, for maintaining the bed frame 2c in its raised, forwardly shifted position 2c.

The different embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in the drawings, indicate that there are numerous possibilities in which the basic concept of the present invention may be applied in actual practice. The important features of the present invention, which are present in any embodiment thereof, are that in the normal sitting position of the piece of furniture the bed frame is located underneath and spaced from the seat part, that the seat part may be pivoted upwardly and the bed frame be pulled forwardly, but only for such a distance that, when the seat part is swung upwardly, the rear longitudinal side of the bed frame will be located substantially within the plane of the lower side of the seat part or slightly forwardly of this plane.

The sofa bed or bed couch according to the present invention has the considerable advantage over similar pies of furniture, that the seat part and the bed part form two entire separate elements and that the frame of the sofa or couch part may contain a completely made-up bed. Thus, after the sofa or couch has in day time been used for sitting thereon, there is now no longer any need in the evening first to make the bed before a person can go to sleep thereon, but it is only necessary, by a very easy and quick manipulation, to swing the seat part upwardly and at the same time to move the bed frame with the properly made bed upwardly to a normal bed level and forwardly of the vertical seat part.

Although my invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodimentsV thereof, I wish to have it understood that it is in no way limited to the details of such embodiments, which are given by example only, but is capable of numerous modications within the scope of the present invention and defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A sofa `bed or the like comprising a main frame containing a complete made-up bed, a seat part, a bed frame mounted in said main frame underneath and spaced from said seat part, said seat part being mounted for a swinging upward movement, said bed frame carrying the complete bedding, and being provided on its narrow sides with rollers, slidable in corresponding grooves in side walls of said main frame, said grooves in said side walls of said main frame extending obliquely upwardly toward the front of said side walls, each of said grooves being provided at its upper end with a horizontal extension, at least one of said extensions having a downwardly projecting recess, a substantially T-shaped angle iron being pivotally mounted on each side wall, one arm of said angle iron being secured to the seat part, another arm being operatively connected to said bed frame by means of said rollers, said arm operatively connected to said bed frame by said rollers and having a slot in said on um larm for supporting said rollers mounted on said bed frame, said arm of said T-shaped angle iron containing said slot having an extension in the direction of said slot, said extension being pivotally connected to said back rest.

2. A sofa bed as defined in claim 1, which includes a spring connected at one end to the rear wall of said main frame and at the other end to said extension and tensioned when the seat part isin its sitting position.

3. A sofa lbed or the like comprising a main frame containing a complete made-up bed, a seat part, a 'bed frame mounted in said main frame underneath and spaced from said seat part, said seat part being mounted for a swinging upward movement, said bed frame carrying the complete bedding, said bed frame being suspended on levers pivotally mounted on the side walls of said main frame, each of said side walls having a substantially L-shaped angle iron pivotally connected thereto, one of the arms of each of said angle irons being secured to said seat part and the other of said arms being operatively connected preferably to said one of said levers, said angle iron being in a dead-center position relative to the pivot axis of'said seat part when the latters is pivoted upwardly, said back rest being pivotally connected to said L-shaped angle iron.

4. A sofa bed, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a covering element is provided at the front side of said seat part.

5. A sofa bed, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said covering element is pivotally connected to said seat part.

6. The sofa bed, as set forth in claim 1, which includes an angular lever pivotally mounted on each sidewall of said main frame and pivotally connected at one end to said back rest and at the other end to said bed frame, and a link member secured to said seat part is also rigidly secured to said angular lever at a point adjacent to its pivot axis.

7. The sofa bed, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said angular lever is pivotally connected to the rear part of said bed frame, and at the front part of the latter a further pivotable lever is provided.

8. The sofa bed, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said side walls of said main frame are provided with releasable stop members for locking said bed frame in its upper operative position.

9. The sofa bed, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bed frame is offset toward the rear relative to said seat part.

1t). The sofa bed, as set forth in claim 1, wherein, when said seat part is swung upwardly and said bed frame is pulled forwardly7 the rear longitudinal side of said bed frame is located substantially within a plane vformed by the lower side of said seat part or slightly forwardly of said plane.

11. A sofa bed or the like comprising a main frame containing a complete, made-up bed, a seat part disposed in said main frame and movable from a horizontal operative position into a vertical inoperative position, a bed frame disposed in said main frame below and spaced apart from said seat part, to receive made-up bedding thereon, in its lowered inoperative position and disposed at substantially seat part level in its raised operative position, a back rest in said bed frame and disposed in vertical forward, operative position and movable into its rearward vertical inoperative position, and angle iron of T-configuration having three arms and pivotally secured to said main frame, one of said arms having a longitudinal slotk and a pivot securing said one of said arms to said bed frame, a second of said arms being secured to said seat part, a third of said arms being pivotally secured to said back rest, so that upon turning said angle iron for aboutv said back rest is moved to its rearward position, said seat part is moved from its horizontal position into its vertical position, and said bed frame is raised from its lower position to a forward upper postion, and a spring connected to said main frame and to said third of said arms, respectively.

12. The sofa bed, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said main frame has two lateral frame end parts, said bed frame has at least one roller, said lateral frame end parts have at least one groove obliquely upwardly disposed and guiding said roller in the movement of said bed frame from one of its positions to the other of its positions, and said groove has at its upper end an extension receiving said roller in its upper position, in order to retain said bed frame in its upper operative position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,150,879 3/1939 FOX 5-21 10 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

FOREIGN PATENTS France. Italy. Italy. Italy. Italy. Sweden.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Examiner. 

1. A SOFA BED OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A MAIN FRAME CONTAINING A COMPLETE MADE-UP BED, A SEAT PART, A BED FRAME MOUNTED IN SAID MAIN FRAME UNDERNEATH AND SPACED FROM SAID SEAT PART, SAID SEAT PART BEING MOUNTED FOR A SWINGING UPWARD MOVEMENT, SAID BED FRAME CARRYING THE COMPLETE BEDDING, SAID BEING PROVIDED ON ITS NARROW SIDES WITH ROLLERS, SLIDABLE IN CORRESPONDING GROOVES IN SIDE WALLS OF SAID MAIN FRAME, SAID GROOVES IN SAID SIDE WALLS OF SAID MAIN FRAME EXTENDING OBLIQUELY UPWARDLY TOWARD THE FRONT OF SAID SIDE WALLS, EACH OF SAID GROOVES BEING PROVIDED AT ITS UPPER END WITH A HORIZONTAL EXTENSION, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID EXTENSIONS HAVING A DOWNWARDLY PROJECTING RECESS, A SUBSTANTIALLY T-SHAPED ANGLE IRON BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON EACH SIDE WALL, ONE ARM OF SAID ANGLE IRON BEING SECURED TO THE SEAT PART, ANOTHER ARM BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID BED FRAME BY MEANS OF SAID ROLLERS, SAID ARM OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID BED FRAME BY SAID ROLLERS AND HAVING A SLOT IN SAID ARM FOR SUPPORTING SAID ROLLERS MOUNTED ON SAID BED FRAME, SAID ARM OF SAID T-SHAPED ANGLE IRON CONTAINING SAID SLOT HAVING AN EXTENSION IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID SLOT, SAID EXTENSION BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID BACK REST. 